CSW Group have been awarded funding from the European Social Fund to lead a group of partners to support over 3,000 economically inactive and unemployed 15 – 24 year olds in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to receive an enhanced level of support. This new project has been named Ambitions. Ambitions will enhance existing careers services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.  This could include supporting employers to offer a wider range of opportunities to people with special educational needs and disability, support for young people in vulnerable groups or helping young people build resilience.

The Ambitions partnership consists of the following organisations, all of whom share a passion to inspire and support young people to explore their skills and career aspirations through a number of activities enabling them to progress into education, employment or training:

  • CSW Group
  • Cornwall Council
  • Truro and Penwith College
  • Cornwall College
  • Prospects
  • RIO
  • The Learning Partnership will oversee the following wider partners with delivery on Ambitions:
    • Access Training
    • United Response
    • Young People Cornwall
    • Live Wire
    • Reach Out
    • Integer
    • PCDT
    • WILD
    • Carefree

“This is strong partnership with a shared commitment to create greater opportunities for all young people across Cornwall and the Isle of Scilly. An impressive team who have clearly used robust evidence to identify where gaps in provision exist. Together they have produced a highly credible way forward.  The thematic approach illustrates how they have paid attention to detail. Together they have genuinely worked out both a strategic and practical way forward to improve young people’s life chances, particularly those most disadvantaged.” Dr Deirdre Hughes OBE, Associate Fellow, University of Warwick, Institute for Employment Research (IER)

By having an extensive partnership model Ambitions will be able to be delivered flexibly throughout the county which will encourage young people to join and feel comfortable whilst gaining a wide range of support.  Examples of just some of the activity on offer to eligible young people include:

  • employability activities with local employers including high quality work experience opportunities
  • access to qualified and experienced career guidance professionals
  • vocational/informal learning experiences
  • resilience building
  • peer mentoring
  • summer school for SEND young people to help with transition

The project will also see the development of new posts within Cornwall Council which seek to raise awareness and improve training and employment outcomes for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Cathie Kessell, Employment and Apprenticeships Officer for Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership said: “Ambitions offers young people aged 15-24 the chance to receive individualised support from a wide range of partners who have joined up on the Project.  Helping them make sustainable transitions into employment, further education or training.  Whilst the unemployment rate for our young people is the lowest it has been for many years, the vast array of work and training opportunities available to young people can be confusing and hard to navigate.  Ambitions provides localised support, alongside good careers advice and guidance to help young people make the right choices for their future and breakdown any barriers to their progression.”

If you work with or know a young person aged 15-24 years old who is unemployed or economically inactive please contact us on: contactambitions@cswgroup.co.uk.